BJP releases first list of 71 candidates amid political turmoil in Bihar

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) announced its first list of 71 candidates for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections on Tuesday, despite the ongoing political turmoil within the NDA over seat-sharing arrangements.

Seat distribution among NDA allies was finalised on Sunday. Both the JD(U) and BJP have been allocated 101 seats each, while Chirag Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) received 29 seats. Upendra Kushwaha’s Rashtriya Lok Morcha and Jitan Ram Manjhi’s Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) were given six seats each.

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The announcement of candidates had been delayed due to unresolved seat-sharing negotiations among NDA constituents. However, the BJP has now moved forward and released its first list.

The first list has not made major changes, except denying party ticket to veteran leader and Assembly Speaker Nand Kishore Yadav, while former MP Ram Kripal has been fielded from Danapur.

भारतीय जनता पार्टी केन्द्रीय चुनाव समिति ने बिहार में होने वाले विधानसभा चुनाव 2025 के लिए निम्नलिखित नामों पर अपनी स्वीकृति प्रदान की है। 1/2 pic.x.com/3OhdeWhR0j

— Sanjay Mayukh (@drsanjaymayukh) October 14, 2025

The party has fielded Deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Choudhary from Tarapur and Vijay Kumar Sinha from Lakhisarai.

Former Deputy Chief Ministers Tarkishore Prasad Yadav and Renu Devi have also been retained as candidates, from Katihar and Bettiah, respectively.

While some senior leaders have been dropped, several others are contesting again. The list includes Dr. Prem Kumar from Gaya Town, Mangal Pandey from Siwan, Jibesh Kumar Mishra from Jale, Krishna Kumar Rishi from Banmankhi, Ram Narayan Mandal from Banka, Nitin Navin from Bankipur, and Shreyasi Singh from Jamui.

The BJP has made significant changes in four of the six Assembly constituencies in Patna, indicating an effort to balance experience with new faces. Nitin Navin and Sanjeev Chaurasia have retained their tickets, while new candidates have been introduced in the remaining four constituencies.

Former MP Ram Kripal Yadav has replaced Ritlal Yadav in Danapur, while Sanjay Gupta took over from Arun Kumar Sinha in Kumhrar. Siddharth Saurav, who joined the BJP from the Congress on Monday, has been fielded from Vikram.

In a surprising move, the BJP has dropped seven-time MLA Nand Kishore Yadav, fielding Ratnesh Kushwaha from Patna Sahib instead.

Reacting to the decision, Nand Kishore Yadav said in a statement, “I stand with the BJP’s decision. The party has given me a lot. I have no complaints. I welcome and congratulate the new generation. The people of Patna Sahib have elected me seven times. I will never forget the love and affection I’ve received as a BJP candidate. My heartfelt thanks to all.”